What a fascinating word! It is also written as Oudh.
How should it be pronounced? I’ve tried to find a YouTube clip or an audio file from an online dictionary so that I could share an accurate example of the pronunciation. There were so many variations that I couldn’t find just one!
I pronounce it as ‘ood’ but I’ve also heard other people say ‘owd’. Some people replace the d with a t sound. There’s also the Arabic pronunciation.
What is oud and why am I rambling about it?! I’ve written before about my love of perfume
https://fancyingfrance.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/fragrance/
and about French perfume commercials:
https://fancyingfrance.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/french-perfume-commercials-oui-ou-non/
and I’ve recently discovered that I’m very attracted to oud based fragrances.
I’ve always been a fan of intense perfumes like Poison and Opium. Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to more ‘masculine’ perfumes. I was given some Molton Brown toiletries and was surprised how much I liked their shower gels which are marketed for men, the woody and spicy ones.
But what is oud? It is derived from the agar tree which is said to have originated in India and grows throughout Southeast Asia. When the tree is infected by a particular mould, it reacts by producing a fragrant resin which is the source of oud. It is an extremely expensive ingredient and is sometimes called liquid gold. Having looked at the price of some of the oud perfumes, I can see why!
Oud based fragrance can be described as warm, woody, smoky and potent. My favourite review described the scent as not being for the faint hearted!!
Rose is often matched with oud and this leads me to my latest purchase.
This I bought in Marks and Spencer for twenty two pounds. As I had some vouchers to use no actual cash was involved. I’d tested this on a previous occasion and I just liked the fact that it was so different. When I first put it on, it’s very ‘heady’ but it changes to a warm and original aroma which is surprisingly long lasting. A little goes a long way. I haven’t had any feedback from friends of family, yet…
Strangely enough, it turns out that this week is National Fragrance Week. I had no idea when I started this post.
If you’ve tried any oud based perfumes I’d love to know!
Wish there was a smell sensor on this laptop instead of, or in addition to, a camera. Although you have done a very nice job of describing the scent. 🙂
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😂 What a great idea; a smell sensor! But only for gorgeous scents of course. I love your idea!
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I’ve never heard of this but I am a convert to French perfume. My favourite is REM which is supposed to smell like the seaside and it does!
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I’m definitely going to look out for REM! Thanks for commenting.
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Sounds divine. I seem to remember that Atypical Cathe found an Oud perfume in France last year. M&S stock some unusual fragrances, I sprayed myself with their Vetiver recently which I loved and will have to be my next fragrance purchase.
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Yes, you’re right Cathe did find an Oud perfume in France but I couldn’t find it where we have our house, unfortunately. Yes, it’s surprising the range of perfumes that M&S have at the moment. Thanks for commenting.
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Oud – who would have known? I shall keep my eyes peeled for Rose Oud, because… I love Rose! Opium, Shalimar – all of those deep, mysterious scents, I love them too.
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Thank you for commenting. I imagine that you might like Rose Oud. I hope so anyway! It’s always difficult with perfumes because they change according to each persons skin. Do let me know if you find any.
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